Darn Tough Picks: The Vermont Trail Systems Most Travelled (By Our Staff)

If you’ve been following Darn Tough for a while, you may have picked up on a thing or two about our home state. Our Mills in Vermont, USA, define who we are here at Darn Tough, and we like to brag about our home any chance we get.

And with comments like this coming in, it’s clear you think our Mills are pretty magical too…

“It’s like getting a glimpse inside of Wonka’s factory. I keep expecting to see an Oompa Loompa.”

We’ve heard more than a few requests from folks over the years who want to tour our Mills, probably hoping to see for themselves if we’re hiding a river of yarn or if Oompa Loompas are working the knitting machines behind the scenes.

It’s just yarn cones and Vermonters around here. Honest.

But Vermont isn’t just home to our Mills; it’s home to our whole sock family, and often, their families too. And in our family, we get outside no matter the season and activity. So, when our team says they, “know a spot,” you bet we’re going to trust ‘em.

We’ve previously shared our staff picks for favorite creemees, towns, and more, but this time around, we polled our team to vote on their favorite hiking trails.

Hiking: The Classics

If you know how tough Vermonters are, it’s no surprise we chose the two highest peaks in Vermont as our favorite hikes: Camel’s Hump and Mount Mansfield.

Mount Mansfield

The tallest peak in Vermont, Mount Mansfield stands at 4,393 ft. It’s known for having a ridgeline that resembles a human face so it’s not uncommon to hear people refer to Mount Mansfield’s “facial features.” If someone lets you know they’re hiking to “the Chin,” that means they’re headed for the official summit.

There are several trails up Mount Mansfield, but the most popular is the Sunset Ridge Trail (we named a sock after it). This trail starts gradually through the woods and then opens up to connect with the Long Trail for the final quarter mile to the summit.

Mike S., our Field Marketing Specialist, is always looking for ways to get outside. He says,

“No matter the season, Mount Mansfield is one of my favorite places to play outside in Vermont. Not only does it get some of the best snow in the state in the winter, but the hiking and trail running when there is no snow is to die for!”

Camel's Hump

Coming in at second tallest, standing at 4,083 ft, we have Camel’s Hump. Whether you see her notorious hump-like profile from I-89 on your drive through our state or hike her steep face for panoramic views at the summit, she’s a Vermont icon for a reason.

The Burrows trail up the West side of the mountain is approximately 4.8 miles and 2,400 ft round trip. This is the steeper route and is more heavily trafficked. It connects to the Vermont Long Trail to reach the rocky summit.

For a more gradual climb, take the Monroe trail up the East side of the mountain, which runs approximately 6.6 miles and 2,600 ft.

Camel’s Hump gives you unmatched panoramic views stretching across the state. That is, if you catch it on a clear day…

And even if it’s not a clear day, we think it’s still worth the hike.

If you’re planning your visit to Vermont to check out these hikes, we suggest booking your calendars for 1466 Day in September. Catch us out on trail on our own made-up holiday, and you might just go home a pair of socks richer.

Biking: Flo and Tech and Bears, Oh My!

From road to gravel to mountain bike disciplines, Vermont has it all. We voted on our favorite trails for mountain biking specifically.

Cady Hill

Boasting some of the most famous trails in the state and beyond, Cady Hill in Stowe, Vermont, is a popular mountain biking network for beginners and experts alike. With downhill trails like Florence, A.K.A. “Flo,” and Bears, there is a variety of machine-built flow with banked berms, tabletop jumps, and rocky descents. We know, that was a lot of bike talk for downhill obstacles.

And yeah, our team thinks the view from the Green Chair Overlook is worth the climb.

Kingdom Trails

With a network boasting 100+ miles of mountain biking trails, it’s no wonder that Kingdom Trails in East Burke, Vermont, was voted our teams’ favorite spot to ride.

Evan L., our Lead Copywriter, loves getting out for a ride on the Kingdom Trails. He says,

“The Kingdom Trails are a Northern Vermont treasure. You can get on a trail in the morning and ride until the sun goes down without stopping or riding the same trail twice. This is so uncommon in our region, in part, because there's rarely enough land available to build such expansive trail networks. You feel like you're just on a never-ending trail, and in one of the most beautiful parts of the northeast. Pretty awesome.”

Running: From Lake Champlain to the Capital of Vermont

There's no shortage of running trails in Vermont, but these are the two our runners like best.

Shelburne Farms

With trails that blend historical architecture, farmland (with the adorable farm animals to prove it), and the Lake Champlain shoreline, Shelburne Farms has it all. These packed gravel trails are ideal for your weekend long runs, or even training for the Vermont City Marathon in May.

Hubbard Park and North Branch Montpelier

Sitting right between our Mills in Northfield and Waterbury, it makes sense that our team voted their favorite running trails to be the network spanning Hubbard Park and North Branch, Montpelier.

Our Social and Content Specialist, Carol D., says,

“Hubbard Park has perfect rolling trails for running, and North Branch has all the vert too—if you’re into that. A bonus in the summer is the trails stay cooler way longer while the rest of Montpelier heats up.”

Walking: Long, Flat Trails with All the Views

Burlington Waterfront Bike Path

The Burlington Waterfront Bike Path is well known, and for good reason. Stretching from Oakledge Park in Burlington, to Winooski, the Greenway boasts lake views and can be connected all the way to the Colchester Causeway.

And more important, Jess H., a graphic designer on our team, says,

“This is Pops’ [dog] favorite walk too…”

Lamoille Valley Rail Trail

Spanning 95 miles, the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is the longest in New England. The gravel and dirt trail stretches from St. Johnsbury to Swanton and is open all year round.

With that many miles, the trail has plenty of towns to park in and things to do along the way. If you’re planning your rail trail walk, we recommend heading to the Vermont Rail Trails website to decide where to start and end.

Skiing and Snowboarding: Team Night Skis and Backcountry Adventures

Bolton

Bolton Valley is a local’s favorite. From early morning dawn patrols to after work night laps under the lights, this hill has the feel of what skiing should be. No frills, more affordable tickets, and a community focus of sliding on snow.

Kevin D. on our Ecommerce team leads a Darn Tough night ski several times a year at Bolton. He says,

“‘Bolton beach’ comes around in late March/early April every year with beautiful sunsets, warm temps, and an excellent way to close out the winter season. Every year we get a group of Darn Tough employees out for at least one night for corn skiing and skiing in t-shirts.”

Sugarbush

Sugarbush has two main peaks, Mt. Ellen and Lincoln. Both offer a variety of terrain to ski, ranging from beginner green circles to double black diamonds, park laps, uphill routes, and backcountry.

The Darn Tough team has hosted sock photoshoots at Sugarbush and even held a group ski day (or spa day, if that’s more your vibe) at the mountain and base lodge.

Visit Vermont Like a Local

Vermont is our home. Both as a company, and as a family.

Whether it’s a hike up Vermont’s highest peaks or a walk along the waterfront, we hope this guide helps you find a trail to explore our great state.

And if you happen to see us on trail—say, on 1466 day for example—don’t be afraid to say hello. We’ve always got more locals tips to share…